LNG Terminals
Pacific Marine Conservation Council (PMCC) advocates for ecosystem-based management that fosters sustainable fishing communities. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy was clear in stating, “ U.S. ocean and coastal resources should be managed to reflect the relationships among all ecosystem components, including humans and non-human species and the environments in which they live.” We agree.
As PMCC considers important and controversial issues, we think in terms of benefiting the marine environment and the people and livelihoods connected to the sea. In this spirit, we offer the following position statement liquefied natural gas terminals.
Siting of LNG terminals and their methods of operation raise issues of public safety and health, interference with traditional coastal industries, and damage to marine environments.
PMCC believes that an open and responsive public process is essential when considering development of an LNG terminal, and that local and state jurisdictions should have the authority to refuse to permit a terminal, even if federal approval has been secured. Community preferences and statutes will vary, but the following basic siting standards should apply:
- LNG terminals should not be sited where their operation or the tankers delivering LNG to the terminal pose a greater threat to public safety than alternative siting or energy supply solutions.
- LNG terminals should not be sited where their operation or the tankers delivering LNG to the terminal pose a greater threat to marine ecosystems than alternative siting or energy supply solutions.
- LNG terminals should be sited to minimize interference or detrimental impacts to fishing, shipping, or other existing waterway uses.
- LNG terminals should not be sited where their operations would result in a loss of commercial and recreational fishing-related jobs in the adjacent coastal communities.
- LNG terminals should only operate using the best available technologies that minimize adverse effects to the marine and human environments.
